What we like

What we don't

The S model is the entry point to the 2017 Kia Rio range, and as such is the cheapest on offer, priced from $16,990 with a six speed manual or $19,090 with a four-speed automatic, both of which are paired with a 1.4-litre petrol engine (77kW, 133Nm).

But cheapest doesn’t mean spartan with the all-new Rio, with even the S model equipped with a new seven-inch touchscreen that is both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto equipped, and is paired with a six-speaker stereo.

It looks terrific from the outside, too, having undergone a European makeover that adds a premium road presence to the cheapest Rio model.

Safety is addressed with six airbags (two front, two front sides and two curtain), a reversing camera and rear parking sensors as standard, while Hill Start Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Straight Line Stability systems are standard. There’s no AEB, though.